Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescacham’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Wescacham’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright and mounding growth habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; medium-sized flowers that are pale creamy yellow and dark pink in color; the varying amount of pale creamy yellow and dark pink colors is dependent on environment and developmental stage of the flower; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WESCACHAM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Wescacham’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Calibrachoa plants with uniform plant habit and numerous attractive and uniquely-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 2011 in Südlohn, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca 11-50, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca 11-03, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Südlohn, Germany since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wescacham’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wescacham’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright and mounding growth habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Medium-sized flowers that are pale creamy yellow and dark         pink in color; the varying amount of pale creamy yellow and dark         pink colors is dependent on environment and developmental stage         of the flower.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as upright as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller flower buds and         flowers than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have light yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as trailing as plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower later than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘Wescasun’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,756. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of ‘Wescasun’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than plants         of ‘Wescasun’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more upright than and not         as hanging as plants of ‘Wescasun’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were not as vigorous as plants         of ‘Wescasun’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had shorter leaves than plants         of ‘Wescasun’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flower buds and         flowers than plants of ‘Wescasun’.     -   6. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Wescasun’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Wescasun’ had intense yellow-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘Celebration Lemon Ice’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of ‘Celebration Lemon Ice’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Celebration Lemon Ice’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Celebration Lemon Ice’         differed in flower color as plants of ‘Celebration Lemon Ice’         had light yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Wescacham’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Wescacham’ showing the flower color variations of ‘Wescacham’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Wescacham’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 12-cm containers in Südlohn, Germany, under typical commercial cultural practices during the spring in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranging from 3 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched two times and were 15 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Wescacham’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca 11-50, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number Ca 11-03, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 to 24 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 24 to 28 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four to             five weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five to             six weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; color, close             to 199D and 156D.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense to dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright to mounding             growth habit; freely branching habit with lateral branches             potentially developing at every node; moderately vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 14 cm to 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 33 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 1.8 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong; flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Densely pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 2.6 cm to 3.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.2 cm to 1.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             numerous flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring until the end of autumn in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about a week on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm to 3.1 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.2 cm to 2.4 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: Oblong. Length: About 1.5 cm to 1.7 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 1B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly semi-circular. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; dull. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 1C and N74A to N74B; the amount of pale             creamy yellow and dark pink colors varies with environment             and developmental stage of the flower; throat, close to             N84A; color becoming closer to N74A to N74C with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 1D and N74B to N74C; the amount of pale creamy             yellow and dark pink colors varies with environment and             developmental stage of the flower; color becoming closer to             N74C to N74D with development.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base per flower. Sepal length: About 1.3             cm to 1.8 cm. Sepal width: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to             147B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm to 2.9 cm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five per             flower. Filament length: About 3.5 mm to 6 mm. Filament             color: Close to 144D. Anther shape: Ovate, four-parted.             Anther length: About 1 mm to 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to             9A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 9A.             Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             9 mm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 144C.             Stigma shape: Ovate; two-parted. Stigma color: Close to             144B. Ovary color: Close to 144B. Seeds: Length: About 8 mm             to 10 mm. Diameter: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Color: Close to             N187A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 16° C. to about 28° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescacham’ as illustrated and described. 